Planning An Amazing Asian Cruise

Cruises are not yet popular among Filipinos. In fact, majority of cruise consumption in Asia are coming from China and India. However, this shouldn't prevent us from missing out on this form of travel especially now that SuperStar Virgo of Star Cruises is making Manila its home port for the next two months.  

SuperStar Gemini's Funnel

Cruising is a great way to travel and discover places as it combines the price of a floating hotel, six meals a day, luxurious amenities, onboard entertainment and activities, and an itinerary in multiple destinations all in one package deal.

There is no need to worry as the cruise tourism caters to a broad range of travelers. There will always be one that's going to be a perfect match to your taste and preferences. But where to begin? The best way to start really is to do research and learn about the ships and their destinations.

We will be sharing here some entries of our own cruising experience and hopefully inspire others to go for their own dream cruises.

So how did we plan for our cruise? Being cruise newbies, we spent a lot of time researching and discovering information on our own. But we're happy to pass along our top tips for planning an Asian cruise. 

Type of Cruise Experience 
First thing to do is to decide on the type of cruise you want to experience. The best way to go about this is to know what kind of traveler you are and what type of vacation you want to experience. For our cruise, we wanted a more economical and less frills experience rather than the very expensive luxury oriented cruises. Other things we considered in the planning were the budget, the time, the port city, the destinations, the activities, and the cabin type. 

Budget
Travelling always comes down to the budget. Cruising can be a more affordable option for multi-destination travel. So check the price ranges as it can vary immensely between cabin types, destinations, and cruise liners. Verify the inclusions before booking. Consider choosing a cruise that offers an all-inclusive package that carry meals with several restaurant choices or one that offers free and easy shore activities. 

All inclusive package as shown in the Star Navigator

Meals like this beef tenderloin with julienne beef bacon, 
rissole potato, sauteed vegetables and black pepper sauce are included 

You may also want to check your network of friends to see if someone works for a cruise liner. Usually they enjoy great perks like discounts on cruises. See if their benefit can be extended to you. 

Only a very limited number of cruise ships are docking on Philippine shores, so remember to factor in airfare to and from your chosen originating port city. Include other expenses should you decide to stay on after the cruise. But if you want to cross off airfare from your expense list, take advantage of the great opportunity to cruise literally from home, hassle-free and Visa-free with SuperStar Virgo, from today until May 23, 2017.

Cruise Ticket

For our cruise fare, we had the privilege of enjoying discounts of more than PhP50,000 per person (perks of working in the travel industry). We also decided to extend three more days in our port city. All in all, we spent roughly PhP20,000 per person for the entire seven day trip.

Time
You ask yourself how long is your vacation time as cruises offer various time frames from one-night high seas cruises to more than seven-night itineraries. For first timers, three or four-night cruises can be excellent choices. These itineraries call in two or three exciting ports offering plenty of time off the ship. 

We booked a three night cruise with at least eight hours stop in every port of call. It was enough to enjoy and spend time away. 

A view of the ship from the tender boat. It stops at least 8 hours in every port of call.

Destination
It is important to consider the originating port, the destination and the activities you are looking for once your ship docks. We chose Singapore as our originating port city because it is popular with cruise liners. This gave us several options for our destination. Since we are beach lovers, we decided to go to two popular beach destinations in Malaysia, Tioman and Redang Islands. SuperStar Gemini of Star Cruises sails at these two beautiful ports aside from Malacca, Langkawi, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. 

Tioman Island

Tioman Island is known for its warm beaches, lovely seas, and lush rainforests while Redang Island is famous for its crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. These two are great destinations for families, couples and singles alike.

Redang Island

Activities
Cruise liners usually describe their ships as destination by themselves. This is because ships offer various activities on board that you can just forget where your ship is at. Some of the activities offered by SuperStar Gemini are fun karaoke nights at the Observatory/KTV lounge; novelty acts and dazzling on board shows at the Stardust Lounge; games of chances at the Star Club; spa treatments and workout sessions at the King Neptune Health Club; social activities and games at the Activity Centre; shopping at Ports O' Call; swimming at the outdoor pools; and so much more. 

Karaoke Nights at the Observatory

Shows at the Stardust Lounge 

Ports O' Call

Outdoor Pool

Outdoor pool

Of course, there will also be shore activities or excursions at your ports of call. 

Cabin Type
One question you need to ask yourself is the type of stateroom you would like to book as this will serve as your retreat after a day of activities on board and at the ports. 

SuperStar Gemini has a total of 765 cabins ranging from Inside Staterooms, Oceanview Staterooms, Rooms with Balcony, and Suites. For this trip, we got an Oceanview Stateroom with a large picture window. Yes, the cabin is more expensive that the Inside Staterooms, but we think they are worth the extra money. Cruising through beautiful places is all about scenery. And there is no better way to admire the sea, the islands, and the sunset than to look at them through a wide window while sitting on your sofa or bed. 

Oceanview Stateroom

The cabin is furnished nicely with a welcoming vibe. It is equipped with a TV, a phone, a safe, a dressing table, a sofa, and a cocktail table. There are also ample wardrobes and the beds can be closed off with curtains for more privacy. The cabin is a nice retreat to come back to after a day of sightseeing and activities.

Gemini's Deck Plan

So take the time to think through these six considerations as it will help you make the right choices so your trip will be the very best fit to realize your dream cruise.

For more information on various destinations, ships, and rates of Star Cruises, visit their website here.